Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-01-07
GROWING MORE MUDDLED,
The Tariff Question Floors the Mem
Morrison People Discouraged.
Cox TO be Appointed to Succeed Hewitt
on the Ways and Means Committee.
The Interstate Commerce Bill Gener-
ally Looked Upon With Favor.
THE TARIFF QUESTION.

! The Way the PrOteetioGiStS Keep Their Grip
| on the Threats OF the People.
| WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 4.4-The tariff
muddle appears more muddled every day.
| The members as they come hack, come
with views no more clearly defined or
this subject than whom they went away.
Indeed, every day muddles them more.
The majority of them don't know what
they want, and those who do know what
they want, can't get it. The Morrison
people are discouraged. Mr.. Morrison
! looks blue. Mr.. Carlisle is absolutely
worried. He looks haggard. He admits
that there is little prospect of any tariff
legislation this session. So does Mr..
Morrison. They both admit that there is
no prospect of the passage of any gen
eral tariff bill. Their only hope now is
to pass a few little bills placing a few
articles on the free list. This they hope
to do under suspension of the rules in the
house. But they can't do it. The minute
they undertake this, the other side, re-
publicans and Randall democrats a Join
ing hands, will move to amend by add
ing clause removing al tax on tobacco
grown in this country,-that is all in
ternal revenu6 tax. May, be too, they
viii add a clause removing the internal rev
enue tax from spirits used in the arts and
manufactures. This would precipitate
the whole question. 1t would bring Just
what Mr.. Morrison and his followers don't
want. They know that the republicans
and Randall men control the situation.
and that they all favor repeal of the
tobacco tax and probably the repeal of
the tax on spirits used in the manufac-
lures and the arts and sciences. If they
make these reductions in the internal
revenue it will cut down the government.
receipts SO much that there will be no
opportunity to reduce the tariff income
for all that will be needed to keep up the
expense of the government in case the
internal revenue receipts are reduced
forty or fifty million dollars.
The Ran6 all people are still undecided
as to their course. What they want is to
see the internal revenue tax very much
reduced or perhaps wiped ont altogether,
and the tariff readiusted. They have not
determined upon any definite course.
They are now engaged in counting noses.
Their plan is if they find that they can
muster strength enough among republi-
cans and democrats to wipe out the to-
bacco tax and remove the tax ON fruit
brandy and the spirits used i'll manufac-
lures and the arts and sciences,-lf they
find that they can get sufficient support
to pass a bill of this kind, their
plan is to pass it. They may add to
1t clause letting in logs and undressed
lumber free, and perhaps putting some
other articles on the free list, something
after the manner OF Mr.. Randall's bill
now pending in the house. They find
great difficulty, however, in getting any
assurance from the republicans as to what
they will do. AS indicated in this cor
respondence several days ago the republi-
cans were willing to cooperate with the
democrats, or section of the democratic
party, so long as by so doing they added
to the complications on that side
l was talking with one of the most con
spicuous of the house democrats and
asked him whether he expected any tariff
legislation this session, or any legisla-
ton affecting the revenue, II think It
very doubtful he replied, ''unless it it is
had by some general understanding
among republicans and democrats. both
in house and senate"